The Iowa women’s golf team repeated success on its home course, winning their second consecutive title at the Diane Thomason Invitational at Finkbine Golf Course in Iowa City. The Hawkeyes topped 15 other schools with a 54-hole score of 889, five strokes ahead of second-place Montana State.
For Iowa head coach Megan Menzel, winning the tournament was not just centered around defending home turf, but also honoring the legacy of Thomason, who was the team’s head coach from its inaugural season in 1975 until 2002.
“It’s awesome that this tournament is named after coach Thomason and we always want to win not just for her but all of our Hawkeye fans,” Menzel said. “We really wanted to leave with the Hawkeyes winning on this course.”
Round three was highlighted by third-year Maura Peters and first-year Sunny Wang, who both shot an even 72. Fourth-years Shannyn Vogler and Riley Lewis each finished close behind with a 73. Third-year Ximena Benites, who was battling an illness, finished with an 81 to round out Iowa’s starting five.
“It felt a little flat again this morning but after hole 12, the team really just dug deep and had very good discipline down the stretch,” Menzel said.
As for the Hawkeyes competing individually, fourth-year Kaitlyn Hanna led the way with a 77. Fourth-year Adie Maki followed with a score of 78. Second-year Lily Heuther shot an 80 and first-year Cailyn Rogers finished with an 82.
The Hawkeyes needed a reset after the first day of the tournament and their knowledge of the course flashed prominently in the final round.
“Everyone was able to shave off a couple of strokes and tidy up some of the small things from yesterday,” Peters said.
For Vogler, the Hawkeyes found their stride on holes 13-18. Not every shot was perfect, but they landed in the right spots for putting and chipping.
With renovations coming to Finkbine soon, this was the last competitive tournament on the golf course for as long as construction lasts. It was also the last time the seniors played a competitive tournament on the course, including Vogler.
“I’m just happy I played pretty OK,” Vogler said. “I played this whole tournament without a driver and had to adapt with some longer irons. But it’s definitely a bittersweet feeling.”
The shot of the tournament came from Peters when she chipped in a birdie from outside the green on hole 18 in the midst of a battle between Montana State’s Maddie Montoya.
“I got unlucky on 17 so when I stepped on the 18th tee box I just had a feeling something good was going to happen to me,” Peters said. “I stood with my plan, felt something good was going to happen, and it did.”
With seven more tournaments left in the season, the Hawkeyes hope to use this victory as momentum to carry them forward.
“I think we’ve been playing some pretty good golf and this win was huge,” Menzel said. “We didn’t play our best but we’re learning that if we can just manage our golf ball and make good decisions we can compete with a lot of people.”
Up Next
Iowa will return to action at the Prairie Dunes Invitational in Hutchinson, Kan. on Oct. 6-7.